Rodeos teach us that animals come cheap
Letter to the Sun
May 27, 2004
Re: Death of 18-month-old steer a 'freak accident', May 25

Sadly, the steer that suffered a fractured vertebrae at the Cloverdale Rodeo was not "a freak accident" as rodeo veterinarian Edward Wiebe said.

Rodeos routinely take normally tame, docile animals and provoke them into behaviour that makes them appear to be fierce and aggressive.

Bucking straps, spurs, electric prods and severe tail-twisting are all painful ways of forcing animals into aggressive behaviour. It is significant that the animals' bruised and battered bodies end up at the slaughterhouse.

Rodeos teach us that cruelty to animals can be a legitimate part of Canadian entertainment. Rodeos teach us that animals come cheap, that they are expendable and rodeos seem to ignore the fact that animals feel pain.

Animal cruelty at rodeos presents an abusive spectacle that has no place in a civilized society.

Karl Losken
Co-host
Animal Voices, Co-op Radio 102.7 FM,